The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.

The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

FILM

The Rio is screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show as their midnight movie.
Friday March 25 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $8

Nostalgia for Light is on at Vancity Theatre. Via documentaryblog: “Set in the Atacama desert in Chile, Patricio Guzmán’s Nostalgia for the Light is a beautiful and emotive film that introduces us to the importance of astronomy to his country, and the relevance it has to its turbulent past. Using the desert as a microcosm to explore Chile’s past, present and future and beyond that to the universe itself, the film takes us on a journey of ideas and investigation, all of which circle back to the desert.” It looks like a stunning film. Check out the trailer here.
Friday March 25 | 6:30pm | Vancity Theatre | $11

I really dig what The Waldorf is doing with film these days. This week: “Some civilizations have ruins to prove their history, Vancouver has archival photographs and documentaries on beta tape. This Sunday, Day for Night marks Vancouver’s 125th birthday year with an afternoon screening of programming selected from the local CBC Television Archives vault. From 60s West End beatniks to 80s Kitsilano yuppies and Gastown artists looking for affordable studio space – Day for Night travels back in time to prove that old French dictum, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”
Sunday, March 27 | 2:30pm.| Waldorf Hotel | By donation

For a mainstream fix consider the new Bradley Cooper  / Robert De Niro flick Limitless. It opens at the Fifth Avenue this Friday. Trailer here.
Friday March 25 | Daily at: 1:45, 4:20, 7:20, 9:35 | $12.75

CULTURE

George Bernard Shaw’s The Philanderer is playing at the Stanley. I don’t know about you, but I love me some George Bernard Shaw (went last night and it was excellent). Plot: “Leonard will do anything to avoid commitment—even get married! Desperate to escape possessive Julia, he proposes to Grace, whose primary allure is an emotional detachment that rivals his own. Shaw’s classic drawing room satire is a hilarious examination of the quest to escape “happily ever after”. More info here. Tip: on Sunday March 27 you can score some coffee and enlightening afternoon chat before the 2pm show.
Now – Until April 17 | Stanley Theatre (2750 Granville) | $50-$60 range

Hold on to your brains, cuz there’s a Jungian analyst from Portland in town and he is setting up to let you in on few secrets about how and how to connect with your creative process and personal development. Be brave. Engage.
March 25 | 7:30-9:30pm | Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut) | $15

Wild Honey By Anton Chekhov is playing at UBC’s Frederick Wood Theatre. “Michael Frayn’s brilliant re-visioning of Anton Chekhov’s posthumously discovered play takes the sharp flavors of melodrama and farce, then shakes them into an intoxicating cocktail. The characters gather in the wake of a long, harsh Russian winter, which has given way to a ‘summer of wild honey’ and an atmosphere rife with sexual intrigue. “…an effervescent comedy of love, lust and locomotives.” – Stage 2008. Chekhov, what a perfect sign of spring.  Details.
Nightly until March 26 | 7:30pm | $22

Do you have an urge to celebrate the coming of spring with a little bit of Singing in the Rain a la Gene Kelly but feeling a touch rusty on the dance moves? No worries. Grab the little ones and head to Art Starts for some free Tap lessons with TapCo. More here.
Saturday March 26 | 11am & 1pm | ArtStarts Gallery 808 Richards

David Sherwin (Senior Interaction Designer at Frog Design) is giving a lunch-time lecture down at Emily Carr next Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 30 | 12pm | Emily Carr – Room 301 | Free

Writer Night! Creative Writing Green College writers in residence Emily Davidson, Natalie Thompson, Sigal Samuel and Michelle Turner present an evening of selected readings and discuss what goes into constructing a creative work inside the confines of an academic institution.
Monday, March 28 | 8-9pm | Green College, UBC (6201 Cecil Green) | Free

ART

Drawing on the Land is showing at the Architectural Institute of British Columbia until the end of the month. It’s a ‘behind the scenes look at the thought process that goes in to designing and humanizing open spaces’. The show features hand-drawn and computer-generated works which showcase the breadth and depth of the profession of landscape architecture.
Now – March 31 | AIBC (440 Cambie) | Free

I’m head over heals for the Danny Singer show at Gallery Jones. Danny Singer’s photographs depict small towns on the prairies and plains of North America with an almost poetic eye. “The relationships between the landscape, the buildings, the inhabitants, and even the passage of time form the content of the images, revealed in both the minute details and the vast expanse of the work”. The show comes down on Saturday, don’t miss your chance. Really beautiful work.
Now until March 26 | 1725 W 3 | Free

Emily Carr University of Art and Design is showing a group exhibition focused on new visual art, design and media work from their First Year Master of Applied Art candidates. The show starts this Wednesday and runs until Friday, April 8 but the opening reception is on Friday, April 1, 6-9pm. Sounds like a solid to hit Granville Island. Store up on Lee’s Doughnuts while you’re at it.
Wednesday, March 30 | 10am – 6pm | ECUAD | Free

ENVIRONMENT

Eco-Dreaming Vancouver goes down at W2Storeum this weekend and it’ll be an interesting gig. Mark Lakeman of City Repair, Portland is in town to facilitate some visioning about how to transform urban spaces in to places of eco-stewardship and creativity. Mark Lakeman is a permaculturalist and architect from Portland, Oregon. He is the co-founder of the City Repair Project that saw street corners and intersections in Portland transformed into works of art and public gathering places. And who doesn’t love Portland? There is much to learn, Padawans. Hook yourself up here.
March 25 + 26 | W2 Storyeum |Suggested Donation: $5-$25

A bit of a heavy gig going on at UBC Robson Square next week…heavy but interesting: “Climate change, extreme weather events and sea-level rise threaten large populations around the world. Important vulnerabilities for public health in this changing environment are air and water quality, and extreme heat. The bad news: Climate can negatively impact health via multiple pathways. The good news: Not only can we effectively mitigate the health impacts associated with climate, a concerted focus on climate change can provide new opportunities to address some longstanding global health concerns. Are our local and global public health systems ready for the challenge? Join us for presentations on “the good and bad news story” by Dr. Michael Brauer, UBC and Dr. Tim Takaro, SFU.” Further details here.
Thursday, March 31| 7-9pm | UBC Robson Square | Free

Here’s a fine way to rack up some Karma points: roll up your sleeves and join in the Wreck Beach Cleanup. Clean up the beach with the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. Clean up supplies provided. There is even a post clean-up party at Nevermind Restaurant. More information over here. The Forecast calls for rain, but don’t be surprised to see a few bare bottoms, because people who love to be naked love to be naked in all kinds of weather.
March 27 | 2-4 pm | Wreck Beach | Free (literally in the dangliest sense of the word)

Naturalist and expert bird watcher Cathy Aitchison leads a two-hour walk exploring Stanley Park’s bird life on Sunday morning. Gumboots will be in order.
Sunday, March 27 | 9-11 am | Stanley Park Nature House |  by donation

FOOD

Don’t miss out on the Farmers Market at Nat Bailey stadium. There just isn’t anywhere better to score groceries. Eat local!

Heads-up – Dunbar Transition Village is offering a Cheese making Workshops up in the Dunbar area this weekend. The workshop is led by “well-cultured” fermentation expert and an urban farmer/philosopher David Rotsztain. You know how those cheese making workshops fill-up. Get on it.
March 26 | 10-1pm, 2-5pm, 6-9pm | St. Philip’s Church, Dunbar | $35

Curious about the idea of keeping chickens? Hit the Backyard Chickens 101 workshop at Strathcona Community Centre this weekend. Duncan Martin is leading the workshop and he’s a super awesome guy. Read a Scout Q&A with Duncan Martin here. Mmm, fresh eggs!
March 29 | 7pm to 9pm | Strathcona Community Centre

The cherry blossoms are popping! If you’re kicking around down town next Thursday, celebrate this delightful sign of spring by attending the Cherry Jam, a free outdoor concert featuring guitar, sitar, and taiko drums. “All ages dance and sing to spring rhythms with local celebrities. Audience participation is welcomes at this jam packed show. Welcome Spring to Vancouver beneath a magnificent canopy of cherry trees in bloom.” More info.
Thursday, March 31 | 12-1:30pm | Concourse of Burrard Skytain station.

EXPLORE

I’ve never made it to the Heritage Vancouver tour of the Penthouse of the Marine Building but man-oh-man would I love to. Heritage Vancouver President Donald Luxton will lead tours of the lobby and Heritage Vancouver Board member, Isaac Vanderhorst will intrigue you with stories about the remarkable history of the Penthouse. Isaac is a stand-up dude and he’ll do a good job. Money well spent I’d say – Particularly because your 100 beans counts as a donation to Heritage Vancouver Society (tax receipts will be issued) and will include a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception.
Wednesday, March 30 | 5:30pm to 8:00pm | Marine Building (255 Burrard) | $100

On Friday night the Vancouver Aquarium is hosting a behind-the-scenes evening event called ‘Immersion’. You can get all adventure-like and tour the shark penthouse or get hands-on with local sea life in the Wet Lab, or you can go low-key and simply pick up a drink from the cash bar and enjoy the novelty of wandering through the aquarium with a civilized glass of wine rather than dodging a crowd of spun up kids…not that I don’t love spinny children! But you know what I’m saying – it’s a different experience all together. Complimentary canapés and DJ. More information at www.vanaqua.org
Friday, March 25 | 8 pm | Vancouver Aquarium | $30

MUSIC

Pop punk rockers State Radio play the soft dark Biltmore tonight. The Golden Dogs open. For a little taste of what you would be in for, have a visit to their myspace site here.
Thursday, March 24 | Biltmore | $16

American experimental-rock band Akron/Family have a unique psychedelic sound that incorporates cool bits like field recordings of a creaking chair and thunderclaps in to their music. They’ve toured with Canadian folk legends Great Lake Swimmers and Pitchfork spoke thusly: “[what] Animal Collective would sound like if Avey and Panda turned down the synth faders and slapped on a fresh coat of Americana.” So there you have it. Youtube the hell out of them here.
Friday, March 25 | 8pm | Biltmore

Bison Brothers, Desert Radio, Shiloh Lindsey Band and David Gannett are at the Backstage Lounge on Friday. Good stuff.
Friday, March 25 | 8pm | Backstage Lounge (1585 Johnston) |

Esben And The Witch hits the Waldorf. How rad is that?
Saturday March 26 | Waldorf

Fresh from SXSW Sharon Van Etten plays the Media Club Tuesday night. Maybe you caught her in-store show at Zulu in November? She was pretty great. Highly recommended. Listen here.
Tuesday, March 29 | Media Club

If you know of or are involved in an event that you think we should know about, drop Michelle a line at Michelle[@]scoutmagazine[dot]ca. No promises – but we’ll see what we can do.

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives in beautiful Strathcona and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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